Flying cars and hoverbikes need even more TLC to keep them running smoothly, and drivers need a place to grab an energy drink and a day old hotdog while they’re far from solid ground. That’s where this whymsical floating service station by Brickleas comes in. With something for everyone, and the most skilled robot mechanic in the sector, the only downside is keeping track of where it is when you need it, as the owner likes to move where the wind takes them.
Tag Archives: Floating Islands
Go gorillas for this feel-good LEGO build
When you see LEGO creations featured on the Brothers Brick, they’re normally no more than a few days old. But we can’t see them all – and some excellent creations do slip through our net. Happily, though, we’ve recently discovered Jean-Philippe Leroux‘s superb floating windmill, built a little over three months ago! But this isn’t any windmill: this is a vessel known to Gorillaz fans as the Slowboat. Even if you’re not a Gorillaz guru, you’ll probably still recognise it from the Feel Good, Inc. and El Manana music videos. The album from whence those songs came – Demon Days – is celebrating its 20th birthday today, so that makes our discovery of J-P’s build very timely indeed!
We’re going to give our Demon Days record another spin, but while that plays out, why not see what other musical builds have featured on the Brothers Brick down the years?
This floating diner probably has great noodles
When you think of floating islands, fantasy scenes may be what comes to mind, but I like the look of this tiny shop by sukhodolov_nikita, complete with some questionable utility pipes and wires. I also love the small cat looking for a snack of its own. Props for the use of an alien chef from the 2012-2013 Galaxy Squad theme.
Play that funky lyre, elf-boy!
LEGO builder Bolim59 presents a situation in which an elf-like individual is alone on a floating island. He chooses to spend his alone time playing the heck out of a lyre for an audience of no one. I can relate. Some of my best guitar playing has been when no one was around to witness the awesomeness forever cast into a void due to the fact that anything great I do on a guitar is just dumb luck anyway. The same can be said for my most brilliant quips, my best jokes, and most profound speeches. All of them recited to myself, usually late at night while I’m trying to sleep, and without a sweet floating island to live on.
Come mine the LEGO skies!
Sky islands have been a favorite subject for many a LEGO creation. And it follows from logic that when all the rocks are floating up in the air, then so, too, are all the precious metals and minerals contained therein. Builder John Snyder shows us what a mining operation might look like suspended amongst the clouds with this glorious bit of steampunk-ery. The outpost is abuzz with gears, vents, winches, and pipes. And located right at the center of the whole shebang is the furnace, about to smelt another load of aerially-harvested lode. It was no-doubt uncovered in one of the neighboring rocks using that hot air balloon/drill combo. It’s one of the most ingenious uses of the LEGO ornament bulb I’ve ever seen!
A pottery studio in the sky
This LEGO creation by Abe Fortier has it all; great textures, excellent parts usage, and a fantastic color scheme. Lately, I’ve been interested in creative spaces that are separate from the home such as a detached art or music studio or even a LEGO building space. So this scored points for being a pottery studio and even more awesome points for being a floating pottery studio. I totally want a pottery studio now, which is interesting considering the only thing I know about pottery is the vase you are spinning can sometimes be ruined by an overly handsy and shirtless Patrick Swayze if that movie Ghost is to be believed. But still, who wouldn’t want that? In a floating studio, no less!
Abe says he pushed himself with the rockwork, tree, different angles, and the use of unusual colors. I just hope he didn’t push himself over the edge of that floating studio because that would be a mess to clean up. Or would it? I suppose he’d just float off until he arrived at Patrick Swayze’s floating bungalow or something.
Miniature LEGO floating island sports a hoot of a nice part usage
Using only 92 LEGO elements, this whimsical model of a floating rock with a miniature windmill by Mbricks packs quite a lot of nice part usage, or NPU! While hair pieces make great foliage as they come in a rainbow of colors, my favorite part is the white owl used as a cloud. A couple of flexible whips make excellent roots.
From the arena of Iron Builder comes Iron City
The competition is heating up over at Iron Builder and we’re all pretty thrilled about it. That means job security for us and entertainment for you bloodthirsty readers. This time esteemed builder LEGO Monkey has constructed Iron City where I presume the competition is held and all important Iron Builder decisions are made. I love the overall lofty city-in-the-clouds feel and the Monkey makes excellent use of the seed part 41 times in this particular build. For those who may not know, Iron Builder has two renowned builders duke it out for a month or so building some amazing LEGO creations all while using a specified seed part. It’s kinda like Bumfights except without all the controversy and litigation. Speaking of jokes that peaked in 2008, I went a couple of bouts in the Iron Builder arena way back when I had other haircut choices but I won’t link the results here because I’m still recovering from the mental trauma. Instead, check out how other Iron Builder competitors have fared lately.
We all float up here
LEGO builder Jesse van den Oetelaar must have his head in the clouds as evidenced by this stunning new creation. Fall colors, hot-air ship, floating islands, great build techniques; what’s not to love, really? There’s been a good deal of floating island-themed builds gracing the pages of The Brothers Brick lately. Not that we’re complaining! Sometimes the best place to be is a fantasy world high among the clouds. Take a lofty trip into our archives to see more floating island creations by talented builders all over (or way above) the world.
An inventor whose mind wanders the skies
In the steampunk-esque LEGO world of Wandering Skies, floating rocks make up the land… sorry, sky-scape. And Okay Yaramanoglu shows us how one inventor makes a home amid the levitating boulders. I adore the cartoon quality of Okay’s creation here. The tudor-inspired walls of the inventor’s abode contrast well with the golden shades of its roof. And the green highlights from the surrounding vegetation and window shutters add brilliant pops of color against the blue background of the sky. There is some fantastic parts usage throughout, including the cloud sculpting using 1×1 curved slopes and all the mechanical contraptions coming out of the building’s roof. But the best by far is the rock on which this “church” is built. The large rocky baseplate and craggy wheel from Nexo Knights for the two islands fit perfectly into this scene.
Relaxation in the sky
I’ve seen a lot of unusual fantasy floating islands, but this has to be the one I’d like to vacation at most. This lush LEGO Steampunk hotel and spa by Kai/Geneva looks perfectly tempting to spend a few hours soaking in the infinity pool—provided you’re not scared of heights, anyway. And just like the floating island concept itself, I’ve seen a lot of techniques for water, but the addition of some subtle lights built into this pool makes it look absolutely stunning.
Why did the chicken cross the road?
There’s the age-old question of why the chicken crossed the road, but it appears it doesn’t apply at this tidy chicken farm by LEGO builder Carter Witz because there are no roads here. Instead, these birds are stuck at home with their tiny wings, because this chicken farm is on a floating island. With lovely autumnal colors and a rustic vibe, this build has everything we’d want from a floating island habitat. The stone doorframe on the house is a great detail that makes the structure feel sturdy despite its precarious location, and there are lots of other great details like the shingled roof and the adorable chicken coop.